Vaughn Slater Sr., 71; owned Slater Funeral Home

Vaughn Slater Sr., 71, of South Philadelphia, owner of Slater Funeral Home on Fitzwater Street near Broad Street, died of pneumonia Monday, Aug. 22, at Kindred Hospital in the Lawncrest section of Philadelphia.

Born in Philadelphia, Mr. Slater earned a full scholarship to Friends Select School, from which he graduated in 1958.

After studying at Lincoln University from 1958 through 1960, he graduated from Eckels College of Mortuary Science in Philadelphia in 1961.

His daughter, Franchella, said he helped an uncle run Mack Funeral Home in Bridgeton, N.J., beginning in 1961, worked as a chemist for the Philadelphia Water Department in 1965, and opened his first Slater Funeral Home, in Salem, N.J., in 1969, the year he completed his service in the Army Reserve.

In 1973, he opened the current Slater Funeral Home.

His daughter said that he continued his college education by earning a bachelor of science degree from what is now St. Joseph's University and master's degrees from Temple University.

Mr. Slater was a long-term substitute teacher of mathematics and science at several Philadelphia high schools from 1976 to 1994, mostly at University City.

Besides his daughter, Mr. Slater is survived by his wife of 42 years, Loretta; a son, Vaughn Jr.; a sister; and a grandson.

A viewing was set from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 28, at the Slater Funeral Home, 1426 Fitzwater St.

A second viewing was set from 9 a.m. Monday, Aug. 29, at St. Rita of Cascia Church, 1166 S. Broad St., before a 10 a.m. Funeral Mass there, with burial in West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd.